Illuminator for lady&#39;s handbag



Nov. 3, 1959 F. c. SCHETZ ILLUMINATOR FOR LADYS HANDBAG Filed Dec. 16, 1957 FEZD/IVA/VD 6. 567/6 7'Z IN VEN TOR.

UnitedStates Patent 2,911,521 ILLUMINATOR FOR LADYS HANDBAG Ferdinand c. Schetz, Chicago, Ill. Application December 16, 1957, Serial No. 703,726 2 Claims. (Cl. 240-645) This invention relates in general to illuminating devices and in particular to an illuminator useable in a ladys handbag, in luggage, briefcases, trunks, on a pilots kneeboard and in similar locations.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a compact and serviceable flashlight device which may be permanently or removably located in the handle of a ladys purse or handbag, adjacent the top of a suitcase, briefcase, trunk, and in numerous other similar locations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flashlight which employs a novel switch easily manipulating in a rotary motion by the finger and thumb.

One more object of the present invention is to' provide a novel form of flashlight which may be removably attached in operating position and which has a built-in reflector permitting the concentration of the light emitted in a single direction, either into the purse or toward a wall or other surface.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a flashlight of simple construction and easy fabrication, and one that has a minimum of moving elements easy to assemble and foolproof in operation.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will be fully apparent by reference to the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view in elevation of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in cross section of the invention.

Fig. 3 is an end view in cross section on line 3-3 of. Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is another end view in cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a further View in cross section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 6 is a plan view of a ladys handbag showing the use of the invention as a handle.

Fig. 7 is a view of another handbag or purse and shows the use of the invention attached to the inside lid of the purse.

Fig. 8 shows still another use of the invention as incorporated in an inside wall of a purse.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, indicating like parts throughout the several views, in Figs. 1 to 5 the invention is seen to consist of a pair of tubular casings 10 and 11 aligned with each other and spaced apart by a central portion 12, also tubular in shape. The inner ends 13 and 14 of the casings are formed with reduced portions having external threads and being formed with a threaded bore 15 and 16 into each of which is screwed an incandescent lamp bulb 17 with its terminal end projecting from the inner ends into a compartment formed in the casings by the inner ends and the removable screw caps 18 and 19, one of which is on each outer end of the casings 10 and 11.

A spring 20 is secured to each screwcap 18 and 19 and presses the batteries 21 into contact with one of the ice rial, the ends of which are cemented in the bushings 24 which arethreadedly secured on the reduced portions of the inner ends of the casings. The bushings 24 have cutaway portions as seen in Fig. 4 at 25 in which a cam 26 is movable, and which projects inwardly from the annular switch member 27. The cam 26 engages, as seen in Fig. 4, the bent end 28 of the flat spring member 22 to press it into contact with the terminal side of the lamp base.

Each of the annular switch members 27 has its outer surface knurled so that it may be easily gripped for rotating. The switch members are joined together by the reflector member 29 which is in the form of a half-sleeve and surrounds approximately half of the surface of the tube 23. A latch 30 on one edge of the reflector member 29 engages the catch 31 which may be made a part of whatever supporting surface the casings are attached to, as in Fig. 3, where it is indicated indotted lines that the casings are attached to one frame 32 of a handbag and the catch 31 is attached to the other frame 33.

In an assembly of the invention as a handle 34 of a handbag 35, as shown in Fig. 6, the employment of the catch 31 as part of the frame 33 permits the closing and locking of the handbag to control the switch portions of the invention, assuring that with the handbag closed the circuit to the bulbs will be open and the batteries not used unnecessarily. In Fig. 7 the invention is shown as installed on the lid of a handbag or purse 37 and no connection of the latch 30 is made with the catch of the purse. In Fig. 8 the casings are secured to the inside back wall of a purse 37, and obviously the position of the reflector member 29 with respect to the purse should be such that when the switch members and the reflector member are turned to where the cam engages the flat spring member, the illumination is towards the interior of the purse, although further turning of the reflector member will permit the light to shine out of the purse and toward a wall or surface, for locating a keyhole for instance, or lighting a dark path.

While a single embodiment of the present invention has been here shown and described, other embodiments may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An illuminator for a ladys handbag comprising a pair of tubular casings disposed in spaced aligned end to end position, removable closure means on each of said pair of casings at their outer ends, said casings each being formed with closed inner ends and with said closure means forming a pair of battery compartments, said casings each being formed with a threaded bore through said inner end adapted to receive an incandescent lamp bulb projecting by its threaded end into the associated one of said pair of compartments, a spring operatively connected to each closure means operable to bias a battery in said compartment into contact with one terminal on said end of said bulb, a flat spring member in each compartment connected at its one end with said spring and extending from said closure means to said inner end, means including a translucent member connecting said inner ends of said casings together, annular switch members disposed one each on said casings surrounding said inner ends and being rotatably movable thereon, said switch members each being formed with an inwardly projecting cam engageable one each with said flat spring members at their other ends, said cams being operable to move said flat spring members into contact with the other terminal of the associated bulb when said switch membersare rotated from a position at which said cams are in nonengaging position with respect to said fiat spring members to a position engaging said flat spring members, a reflector member partially surrounding said translucent member connected one end to each of said switch members and being movable therewith, and latch means including said reflector member operable to releasably secure said switch I members with their associated cams in non-engaging position with respect tosaid flat spring members.

2. An illuminator for a ladys handbag havin a pair of frames hingedly connected together comprising a pair of tubular casings disposed in spaced aligned end to end position on one of said frames, removable closure means on each of said pair of casings at their outer ends, said casings each being formed with closed inner ends and with said closure means forming a pair of battery compartments, said casings each being formed with a threaded bore through said inner end adapted to receive an incandescent lamp bulb projecting by its threaded end into the associated one of said pair of compartments, a spring operatively connected to each closure means operable to bias a battery in said compartment into contact with one terminal on said end of said bulb, a flat spring member in each compartment connected at its one end with said spring and extending from said closure means to said inner end, means including a translucent member connecting said inner ends of said casings together, annular switch members disposed one each on said casings surrounding said inner ends and being rotatably movable thereon, said switch members each being formed with an inwardly projecting cam engageable one each with said flat spring members at their otherends, said cam members each being operable to move said flat spring members into contact with the other terminal of the associated bulb when said switch members are rotated from a position at which said cams are in non-engaging position with respect to said fiat spring members to a position engaging said fiat spring members, a reflector member partially surrounding said translucent member connected one end to each of said switch members and being movable therewith and latch means on the reflector member and a catch on one frame of said bag releasably engaging said latch and securing said switch members with their associated cams in non-engaging position with respect to said flat spring members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Frohlich Feb. 17, 1953 

